Iran’s soccer federation is not letting the top U.S. homeland security official’s celebration of their World Cup elimination slide. And they’re making sure everyone knows it.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters this week that he was thrilled when Iran was eliminated from the tournament on a VAR-disallowed goal against Egypt. The draw knocked Iran out on goal difference, and Mullin didn’t hold back.
“I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back,” Mullin said. “I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance.”
He added that no other team in the tournament required as much attention from his department.
Iran’s Federation Calls the Comments ‘Petty’
A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation responded sharply, calling Mullin’s remarks a reflection of the man, not their team.
“The fact that he openly celebrates Iran’s elimination says far more about him than it does about our team,” the spokesperson said. “It reflects a level of pettiness that cannot even tolerate the presence of a football team competing on the world’s biggest stage.”
The federation also accused Mullin of lying about an alleged attempt by the Iranian delegation to bring a person tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into the U.S. Iran called that claim “false, fabricated and entirely baseless.”
The verbal back-and-forth has been building for weeks. Iran’s team faced unusual travel restrictions during the World Cup. They were forced to train in Tijuana, Mexico, and were only allowed into the U.S. the day before each match. After every game, they had to return to Mexico immediately. Some staff members were denied visas entirely.
Iran’s head coach said after a match against New Zealand that the U.S. didn’t want Iran in the tournament. The federation now says those words sound prophetic.
The Broader Context Isn’t Pretty
This isn’t just about soccer. The spokesperson brought up a bombing at a school in the Iranian town of Minab in February, which Donald Trump blamed on Iran. “When they kill 168 children and lie to the whole world about it, nothing this person says is surprising to any of us,” the spokesperson said.
Mullin didn’t address that comment directly. But his office has made clear the White House stands by the visa restrictions placed on Iran’s team, citing security concerns.
For now, Iran is out of the World Cup. But the war of words is just getting started.
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